10 Hits You Didn't Realise Sampled Other Songs
7. Paper Planes - M.I.A.
British hip hop artist M.I.A.'s massive international hit was released in 2008, to accompany Danny Boyle's equally successful film, Slumdog Millionaire. Several elements made Paper Planes instantly distinctive and immediately catchy – the staccato repeated rhythm which underpins the song, the long, lurching and slightly off-kilter note that floats over the top, M.I.A.s charming, understated delivery and the imaginative use of sound effects during the chorus.
The song achieved multi-platinum sales across several countries, and lifted the singer's profile to a new level, which in turn mired her in some turmoil – the star's condemnation of the Sri Lankan government's behaviour towards its Tamil population unexpectedly found her in the political spotlight.
Sharing writing credits alongside M.I.A. and singer-songwriter, Diplo, are UK '70s and '80s punk rock band, The Clash, whose song, Straight To Hell, provides that aforementioned staccato rhythm and drawn-out, discordant note. In Straight To Hell, that section in question features as an 8-bar intro, and mid-track break of the same length.
Given how much Paper Planes relies on this loop, together with the sample's relatively long run-time, it's only fair that The Clash secured official co-writing recognition.